The Man's Guide To Marriage: 20 Brutal Truths About Being A Husband

First off, buyer beware: these are not so much "brutal" truths as they are reality checks for men who wonder how things really are on the other side of the matrimonial fence. This isn't my secret journal (I don't think), and my wife will likely see this, as might her friends and family, so I won't be divulging any lurid insights for the sake of a few more shares on social media.

In conclusion, dear reader, I've attempted to thoughtfully represent the manly side of how to be a good husband, from the perspective of a guy who's been happily married for five years and has a toddler to show for it. Your mileage may vary.

7. Not all of her underwear is the sexiest thing you've ever seen, but you should never mention this.

She has comfy underwear, she has cotton underwear, she has "time of the month" underwear, and so on. But before you throw underwear stones, consider your own underwear game. Yeah, let that embarrassment hit you like a wave and then go offer an apology in the form of a five-minute foot rub.

8. And the same goes for pajamas and general bedtime clothing.

The exception to this rule is if you purchase something sexy and present it as a gift. That's a good loophole and a win for everybody.

9. The decrease in sex is 50 percent your fault.

Sex frequency declines, especially after there's a kid in the picture, but half of this problem is absolutely your fault. Effort beyond blind groping in the dark is usually rewarded handsomely.

10. After your kid is born, the breasts are off-limits.

Your wife's breasts will never be as big and bountiful as they are post-childbirth, and she will never be as disinterested in you touching them. You must learn to appreciate them from afar, like a priceless museum piece that you just want to suck on.

11. Being married is better than being single.

Your single life wasn't as exciting as you think it was. You spent most of your time leaving bars, drunk and alone. It's helpful to go out with single friends every now and then to remind yourself of that fact.

12. She’s probably not thinking about sex as much as you are.

But she's definitely thinking about chores that haven't been done and errands that haven't been run, so if you do those chores and run those errands, sex is almost certainly next on her to-do list. Probably. I've never tested this theory.

13. She won't like all of your male friends.

Don't try to defend the one she really doesn't like, because she's right. He actually is a jackass.

14. She won't like all of your female friends.

She'll be jealous of pre-existing female friends, of course, but don't expect to introduce a new female friend into the picture without accepting and being accepting of the kind of scrutiny usually reserved for Iran's nuclear ambitions.

15. You won't have the same parenting styles.

No matter how eye-to-eye you see in matters of life, a real, live child forces you to put into practice all sorts of untested theories about what it means to raise an ethical human being. Not all of them are correct.

Your wife will probably do things you suspect will irreparably harm your child later in life, but it may take decades to bear out that suspicion. In the meantime, relax.

16. Going out and getting drunk with your friends gets less cute as you get older.

And it's almost not cute at all when you have a kid. There's a proven scientific amount of alcohol that will make you aroused, insanely complimentary, and predisposed to foot rubs, so figure out what that amount is for you, and thank me later.

17. She doesn't want to hear that you find another woman attractive.

No matter how strong your relationship is. Unless it's her mom. You can compliment her mom. But for god's sakes, not her sister.

18. Kick her out of the house every now and again.

There's a certain type of wonderful wife who's so dedicated to her child and matters domestic that she'll forget to take some time to hang out with her friends.

Remind her that she always feels better after a night out, and when she's gone, you can pretend to be a carefree, unattached guy who does what he wants. Unless you have a child. In that case, maybe just enjoy some light reading.

19. Going to bed at the same time does wonders for your relationship.

It's tempting to stay up late and watch all the crap on the DVR she doesn't care about, but Drunk History will always be there tomorrow. There's no rule that says you can't dream about Derek Waters while you happily spoon your wife.

20. Remember why you signed up for this thing in the first place.

There's almost no disagreement, bad day or horribly mismanaged dinner preparation that cannot be improved upon by kissing your wife and saying, "I love you." If not, try a foot rub. Those things work like gangbusters, man.